Locomotive stoker



March 29, 1932. N. M. LOWER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed June ll, 1926 5 Sheets-Shea?l l March 29, 1932. N. M. LOWER LocoMoTIvE s'roKER 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June l1, 1926 March 29, 1932.

N. M. LOWER LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed June 11, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 29, 1932V ff ffUNITED*STATES PA-TENT' Q'FPCEJ NATHAN M. LOWER, oF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE, BY MEsNE ASSIGN? MENTS, 'To THE STANDARD 'STOKE-E eoHrANY TNC., dE NEW Y`onH,.N.Y.,` A'oon- ,if

PoHAT-ION 0E DELAWARE f Looo'MoTIvE sToKEE Y i 'Aiiicanmaied amie 11, 192e.L seriainofi'laifzs.

`c'arrie'dto'V a 'pointahove the grates of the ire-box jby means of pressure exerted bythe ltran'sferlung `mechanism Within the'conduit;

its: Aobjects heing to incorporate 4into stakers ot this ,type varceitainV known torni ot trans- "1'0 fer conduit [and mechanism, andrto provide invention Fig. l;

improved means for ing'ot the fuel. d i v i In the accompanying drawings, l l

Fig. l'v isaJ detailV central :longitudinal ver` tical section "of a locomotive and its tender, including one tormot embodiment et ythe preventing 'the impact- Fig, 2 is a detail section on the line 2%2of v Fig Bis a viewsi'milar toA Fig. l, sho-'Wing a' modified form of construction; t

the line dell Fig.' 4 is'la sectional .View on ofFigBgt' y y Figg shows in 'elevation two camsap'pearing'in Fig. 6, and in section, a shaft upon which they are mounted;

Fig; 6 is a' plan `vie-w, partly in section .and

partly,- diagrammatic, .V oflthe fuel'-lifting mechanismfot Fig. 3.

fet

I or'the purposc-i'ofV showing the application of thefs'tok'er to a locomotive, certain parts of the latter are shown.,-thev boiler backheadfbeing designated l0, andhaving .Y alliand `firing door opening il; the trates of the fire-b`o`x12 are indicated atlgthe. floor or'decklof the'locomotive cabis designated Mgt-he locomotive traine islnarked l5; and

the-'floor ofthe fuel bin ofthe tender is designated 16.

shown. 1n` Fig. y 1,. a transfer conduit 17' is located below the ioor lfofthe tender,i

andis carried by wheels, a's'l8, running on tracks, as 19, which 'are secured to thetender trame; ,Thisv conduit .isv of'l known Vtorno, its

rearwardportionbeing Vopen, at the topto receive jtuel throughlan aperture the floor i6?"` A' helical screw conveyerlQOfis mounted i within the'v conduit for advancing the fuel therethroughan'd is driven 'by' means "otA -a jointed und telescopic shatt'2i, Yaciuuited vby a motor22, V.suitably mounted on the trarne.

ofthe locomotiva-#the rearwardl end-'of the shaft being operatively'connected vWith the screw 'fby nieans of suit'ahle",c gearing` housed within'the casing23 'atthe reanend of thecondut.` i fj The conduitv 17 extends forwardly asta` singleunit under the cab ldeck 14andi`s'con-- shown in Fig. 2 asapproximately squargg' 1 .The elbow constitutes,v a"delivery"noz'zle from the open andl upper end of which the fuelissues and trom which it is scattered over the grate by 'means ot steam jets from anip'f. plefc'onventionally indicated at 27 and posi-Y tioned between the nozzle and the baokhead;

and slightly'abovethe former.

`The lower Wall of the elbow of the risery tube 25 is apertured, the aperture being closed.'

by a pair of reciprocating plates 28, 29, which are pivotallycarried` by 'rock 'shafts.30,i 31,l sleeved one upon the other. The plates 28, 29, Y

are arranged to .swing upwardly 'from the a small angl-e, and at their'jfree ends arepro'-l vided with'skirts, as'shownat' 32, for preyenting'fu'el from entering below them when elevated. `The shaftsO, Blfalreyprovided Y with crank arms, '34, which are connected,

bv means ot' links 85e, 36With cranks 37,38,

of a: shaft-$39 ljournaledwithirr a `casingj40 earrie'iby the-leasing of "theinotor" '22," and v within 'which are mounted suitable gearsfor rotating the shaft 39.`

, Fuelis forced the pressure of the .ne -V air vent its impacting at 'theelbow ThecranksVl Y 37, 88,1 are dis-posed at 'such', angles'I that the* make their respective strokes inC alternatiom o5 Y ich-the The advantage vof this arrangement is that i Y any tendency Vof the fuel to settle in the upstanding or delivery legV of the riserrtube,

as one ofy the plates recedes, is prevented by thel movement of kthe companion plate.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. ,3, the transferring conveyer comprises a .rearward section 41, which maybe rigidly attached tothe tender frame 'and receives .the

coal from the-'fuelbim anda forward section 42, connectedfto the rearward section by a universal joint and leading forwardly 'underV the deck 14 of the cab and being united, byl

a `ball joint below the mudrllg` of the boiler, to a riser tube 43. Within the transfer condlltfthere .is housed a fuel-advancingelexnen.,t,ehere shown llas a ,Screw 44, formedV Of two sectionsy universally j ointed'together and extending to .the forward end ofthe forward section of .the conduit. Y

yThe riser tube .43 is a substantiallysquare d' YVtube, rigidly. secured .to the engine `frame as b ,means of-a bracket 45, and .extending up: t

' ,Wardly,throughfthegrates-to a'suitable heig forv the, distribution of the4 filel Vthereover as itissuesfromthe openupperend of the riser. A steam nipple 46, secured at the rearward sident the top of 'the ris/,er tube, ldischarges pair p fshafts 49, .50,.whieh are in sleeved Y 512mm jetS thereacross which are suitablydij rectedfm scattering the fuel Over lthe entire grate area. YThe .lower .end of the riser tube 4.3 imperi, and withnt is .mounted a pair of 49.1151121plates 477.418, which' are fixedlupon a relation' andfextendaeross the rearward'sde opfrgtherifiserltube. `These plates .swingup- .wardlypartiallylaeross the delivery end `of the ,transfer eondutmnd are arranged to .act

intermittently, and in alternation, Each -.plate `remains .at rest in its upper position while the other makes-a Jcompletefirman and upstroke..

i yThe .mfchanisrn f f0.1' thus vactuating the blades may take varonsforlms. As llufst'rat.-

ed'V'it-com rises a pair of reciprocating stream nioters 52,thepiston rods 53, y54, of. which are suitably connectedl to rvcrank varms 55,v 5.6., .attaehed,--respcetve1y, t0 thelshafts 49, 50.

gdrlvenjby means of a worm wheels@ with..-VV

1111 s gear casing 61 attached to the easing el i the motor 22, ,anda worm' rdrivenfrmfthe mamimetcr; a Y e Y .The valve casing kof :the .motors l51, 52, is

' provided withv afstealnpassage V64 and an exhaust passagew, botli of which may be opened ,toY ducts leading yto .both ends of 4`the Cylinders ef eachof .ther'noters 5.1, 52. The ducts asocdrvvith the motoril are desig- Ilated, respectively, 6,6 K and ,67 the .ducts associated. vwith the-motor 52--being designated,

Y -Qijthesefductswithinthecasing 63 isformed p. ingwalls'separatingfthe ducts y154, 65, and

which are ported, as shown at 70, 71,to com-V municate with each. vThese ports are in each instancevaligned and are controlledby a pair of valves, as r72, 73, fixed upona stem'74 projecting into a `central chamber 7' 5 .ofthe casiY ing 63, Within .whichl is disposed-the shaft The several sets'fof valves are., ufor conf venience of .description of operation, :designated, respectlvely, A, 13,0, ,Drthe valves A, B, cooperating with the motorl 5l, andthe valves C, D, with the, motor 52. ith .the valves inthe positions as illustrated thestem, passage .64`is o en tothe ductV 67 leading to the cylinder o the `motor .51, andthe .duet 66, connected with .the oplpositeiend of cylinder, `is open to the eX aust passa( @.655-5 this dispositioning oft-he valves (A,

ing subsisted during .one-half of a revolution of the-cams .57, 58, and continuing-while these cams make' a further `quartcr turn, ,the

piston of the motor 5lv meantimev at rest. v

The valves' C, D,"have just been shi'ftedby the' cams to openthe steam passagel: .t0-the the :meter 52,'an`d to Open lthe exhaust 190 duct 69 leading toon'eend of thecylihdelof .i l

sage 65 to the duct 68 leading to the .opposite end of this cylinder. During the quarter turn yof the cam' which has justjbeeneempleted, the stems of the valves 1C, 1),.'-have1been in .contact with the reduced SeCtOiS 76, 77,

of the cams,y during which interval vthe steam passage 64 Vhas been in communication with` Y the duct 6.9 and fthepisten hasrna'de.-an .eut- Stroke,carryingthe plate 48 downward The shifting .of the valves C, D, which is shown to have just occurred, will cause the reverse'V Y stroke `of the piston 'of the .motor 52,r'etur'n` .ing the plate 48 to itsupperpositonwbich/ it will continue to occupy untilthe ,Genis shall have completed a three-.fourths turn. Meantime kthe piston of the .motor 1.5.1 remains.

at rest, holding the plate 47 in its Lupperpo-` l Sitien -until .the r earns lhave madela Harter turn, by .which .timethe plate 48 Wi '1 vhave been returnedte its upper position- In both forms. of ythe plate-actuatingmeeh-f 'anisrn .oneiplate is .alwysaeting prevent `recession of fuelwithin the yfriser:tubeiA In Ythe construction Shown in Figs. 1 :f1-m12', there.

is one platey V`always acting ,to give the fue):

anupward impulse.V v Y Y, In each ofthe forms shown .the Y fuel is. re-

ve'nted Yfrom paekngatthe 10W-.6r en.. ef.KV

the riser tube by the action of the swinging plates, and any tendency to rotation as it passes upwardly is prevented by the crosssectional angular form of the riser tube.

That portion of the riser tube which is within the fire-box is protected against the intense heat by air currents passing upwardly along its outer faces, and the swinging plates make a sufliciently loose fit within the lower end of the riser tube to permit the admission of air which passes upthrough or with the fuel. If desired a protecting wall of any suitable kind may inclose the riser.

The details of construction may be varied within the scope ofthe invention.

I claim as my inventionl. In a Stoker, in combination, a transfer" conduit, a riser conduit receiving therefrom, a screw within the transfer conduit for advancmg fuel therethrough and for exerting a pressure on the same within said riser conduit, a pair of upwardly swinging plates at the lower end of the riser conduit, a pair of reciprocating motors, crank connection between thepiston of each motor and one of the plates, steam and exhaust passages, ports connecting each of said passages with both ends of the motor cylinders, valvescontrolling such ports, cams for controlling the valves and arranged to cause complete strokes of the two motors in alternation, and means for actuating the cams.

2. In a stoker, in combination, a transfer conduit, a riser conduit receiving therefrom a screw within the transfer conduit for ad? vancing fuel therethrough and for exerting a pressure on-the same. within said riser conduit, a pair of upwardly swinging plates at the lower end of the riser conduit, a pair of reciprocating motors, crank connection between the piston of each motor and one of the plates, steam and exhaust passages, ports connecting each of said passages with both ends of the motor cylinders, valves controlling such ports, cams for controlling the valves and arranged to cause complete strokes of the two motors in alternation, a prime motor for actuating the screw, and operative connection between the prime motor .and the cams.

8. In combination, af boiler having a firebox` a fuel bin rearward of said boiler, a stoker comprising a transfer conduit for conveying fuel forwardly from said bin, a riser tube extending upwardly and communicating with the firebox, the conduit vdelivering into the riser tube, means within the conduit for advancing fuel. therethrough and for exert ing pressure on the fuel within the riser tube, means separate and apart fromV said first named means including a plurality of fuel lifting members operating at the bottom portion only ofV the riser tube to prevent impacting of the fuel andfor cooperating with said first Vnamed means inadvancing the fuel,

bers alternately;

and: -means .f .lor` actuatinga sai'd lifting inem;-

Stokery coinprisingfa transfer. conduit for'con;4

boilerhaving,k lireil veying fuel ,forwardly from .said bin; a friser v tube extending upwardly and communicate. ing with the irebox, `the .conduit deliver` ing .into the risertube, mean`s within the conduit for: advancing nfuel ,-therethroughzVU and for` exerting pressure on@ the fuel v within the .riser tube, means' separate yand apart from ,said first named means including a2 painx of alternately` acting, upwardly swinging'inembers operating` at the bottom portionbf the.

riser tubeonly to .-prevent.impacting offthe f named meansv `in advancing; the -.`f ue1,4..and. meansA for Factuating .5. 3In combination, a boiler-,having a. Ee-g- .saidf members alter' box., fuel-bin rearwvardjof said boiler, la* Y stokericoinprising a transferonduit'for Cdn"- veyingz 4fuel forwardly :from saidV .him-.jai riser tube extending upwardly and communicating with.. the fire box, the foonduitfdelivering into the riser; tube,meansj.within .the conduit ,foi `advancing -fuel there-through and ,fori-Texertingip'ressure 'Qnjgjh'e Vfuel within the riserV "ico tube, means separate and apart from said!v i'irst named means including a pair of inter-V mittently and alternatelyV acting, upwardly swinging plates operating atthe bottom portion only of the riser tube to prevent impactj ing of the fuel and for cooperating with said first named means in advancing the fuel, and

means for actuating'said plates alternately. 6. InV combination, a boiler having a fireboX, a fuel binrearward ofsaid boiler, a

stoker comprising a transferconduit for conveylng fuel forwardly from said bin, a riser Y tube extending upwardly and communicating with the firebox, the'conduit delivering into the riser tube, means within the conduit for advancing f uel therethrough and for exerts ing pressure on the fuelwithin the riser tube,

means separate and apartfromV said irst named means includinga pair of intermittently and alternately acting, upwardly swinging plates operating at the bottom por- .tion only of the riser'tube to prevent impactveying fuel forwardly from said bin, a riser tube extending upwardly. and communicating with the firebox,the conduit delivering into theriser tube, means within the conduit for advancing fuel therethrough and for eX- l erting pressure on the fuelwithin Vthe riser Y' tube, means separate and apart from said iirst named means including va pair of fintermit- Yalternately upwardly swinging plates operating at the'bottom por- A :n individual vfhxid motor for actuating each ingvffthe fuel and imcooperatingl with said lint named means-inadvmcing'the fuel, and

8;.-111 combination, aboi'ler having. a fire- `lumnsa fuel bin :rearward of said boiler, s. Stoker eompr'sing'a transferconduit for c :onveying fuel forwardly fromr said bin, a riser tube extending upwardly .and communicating wththeirebomthe conduit delivering Y' ingof tl'le'fuel and forfcoope'ratling with said Y yintothe riser tube, means wit-hin the conduit .for advancing fuel therethrough and forexelftin'g pressure on the-'fuel vWithin 'the .riser tube, means Aseparateand apart from said first nsmedm'eans' including a pair of intermit- Y 2'6 Ytenlzly and iglte'metely acting, upwardly swinginglplates operating at the bottom por# tion Y,oniyzof the riser tube vto prevent impactrst named means in 'advancing the fuel; yand Sn independent steam motor for actuating each .plate-and power driving cams controliig 'the ymotor Yvalves. andv ractingY to operate themotore 'intermittently and alternately.

In testimony 'whereof I a-ix my signature. l' v'NATHAN M. LOWER. 

